Living with RSD

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My experience with RSD
by: Jenna on Fri, Sep 14 2007

I was 9 years old when I was getting ready for a basketball game and I was coming down the stairs and tripped and fell. I had a weird pain in my right ancle and it hurt to move it. I was taken by my mother to the hospital to get some x-rays to make sure that I didn’t break anything… nothing came back on the x-ray and they simply told me that I spraned it and it would be fine in a couple of days armed with a pair of crutches I left. Only three weeks later the pain was still there…and worse. We went everywhere… back for more x-rays and the result was still the same… nothing broken, it must be just sprained. Untill my mother and I were told to see a specialist and for him to take a look at my problem. When I went to see him it was there that I found out that it was something much more difficult and rare then a simple sprain. I had RSD For a nine year old it seemed like I had been cursed by somene. I went to physical therapy everyday once in the morring and once at night. My mothers and fathers life was consumed with having to drive me from one place to another. Though if that wasn’t enough. Having to go to school was the worst possible thing for me. I would always be a little late to class in the morring because of my physical therapy and my teacher was cruel to me about it. To the point where I made my mom come in with me one day to see what she did to me. My mom and I walked down the halls and when I got to the classroom the teacher gave me a dirty look (like always) and my mother got to see that look and she was furious about the fact that the teacher would act that way towards a nine year old. It wasn’t just the teachers that didn’t understand, it was the kids as well. I would have kids telling me all the time that i was faking and they would do horrible things towards me. Like pull a chairs from under me and kick me in the leg and the list goes on. I was feeling all alone because I really didn’t have any friends that I could hang out with. I used to be a runner and an athlete and have lots of friends… and it all changed. Then I was hit with a huge blow, my muscle in my leg was deterating. That is when I was told I needed to have a nerve block. Then I was faced with a whole new bunch of problems. My parents and the doctors needed to find someone that would do a nerve block on such a young patient.Finally I found a guy that would actually do it on such a special case as mine. I then was scared about getting one. I had my physical theripist corner me in the pool durring one of the sessions when my dad and mom went to get breakfast real quick and practially yelled and me and tried frighting me into getting the nerve block. For a nine year old it only made it worse I really like her and then it hurt me when she did it, I didn’t understand at the time that she was trying to help me but I believe that she went about it in the wrong way. This event made me change theripists because i no longer felt safe and made me even more frightened to get the nerve block. Then after talking about it with the doctor that was to perform the nerve block I decided that I was going to go through with it after all. A couple of days later I went and had the procedure. I felt amazing after ward I cried because there was no pain. I almost forgot what it was like having no pain. Though three weeks later I was stuck with pain coming back. Frightened I didn’t want to worry anyone about it because I saw how happy everyone was around me and how happy I was, so I went on not saying anything. Then one day it got to the point where I couldn’t stand the pain of walking on it anymore. So I sort of limped on it and my mom saw the signs and had a talk to me about it. Which then caused the trip back to get another nerve block. Only this time it took care of it.
I am now about to be 16 and I have been pain free of RSD I have tons of friends now and I am back to starting to run again. I am able to be active and do everything I want to. I have to say I have had some time to step back and look at all I went through and I think that I could help with some pointers. I know that I wish that I had really gotten a nerve block sooner and not have been so scared. I am not saying though that it will solve all our problems but it couldn’t hurt to try, it just might do the trick. Just try to be open and have someone to open up to. Keeping in all your feelings will not help you, it will only make you feel worse. Be strong no matter what because things will get better. Trust me at times you will feel like the world is falling down on you and that you can’t do anything, you need to keep postitive. If you currently are struggling with RSD I wish you the best of luck, You can do it!!! Smile hunny and don’t be afraid to cry now and then. Things happen for a reason and sooner or later you will see why things worked out the way they did.

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Comments

Sun, Dec 30 2007
Hi, Jenna. I just wanted to say that your story was the first information I've read since being diagnosed. The doctor and Physical Therapist (who su...Read

September 2007

2 years with RSD - by Lori - (Tue, Sep 25 2007)
Its been 2 years since I was diagnosed with RSD and the only thing that has changed is the size of my leg. I broke my ankle and within weeks the leg swelled to twice its size, the coloring changed and it burned like someone set me on fire. I have a hard time wearing shoes, walking distances and steps. [more..]
Left Hospital with RSD - by Lori - (Tue, Sep 25 2007)
I went into the local hospital for a kidney infection and 8 days later I went home with RSD. The nurse had placed the IV incorrectly and I had a reaction to an antibiotic that caused clotting in my right arm, then RSD set in. It has now been 2.5 yrs and it has only temporarily improved with nerve blocks and vicodin. [more..]
rsd and spinal cord stimulator - by ML - (Mon, Sep 24 2007)
I would like to know if anyone has used a spinal cord stimulator and if it helped. I have had RSD for four years - it is now whole body RSD and the doctors now want to implant the stimulator after numerous failed blocks and too many drugs and too much pain. [more..]
Life with RSD - by claudna - (Fri, Sep 21 2007)
i was diagnose in 2000, and nerve bblocks surgery to relief stress on the nerves and every tape of pills their is. I was hit on my left hand by a burglar bar at work from a student. [more..]
I’m 15 yrs old and have RSD - by Amber - (Thu, Sep 20 2007)
My name is Amber. I am 15 years old and have RSD. I first got RSD when i was 2 years old. But I was finally diagnosed when i was 12. I have had a lot of compications with RSD. But any doctors I have gone to have been unable to treat me. [more..]
The doctors act like it magically disappeared! - by BB - (Wed, Sep 19 2007)
Seven years ago I had an achillies tendon repair and suffered horribly afterward. I developed RSD in that foot/leg and it spread to the other leg/foot also. [more..]
My RSD in remission - by dantesnana - (Wed, Sep 19 2007)
I had RSD. It started in 1993 after a flu shot. Instead of being localized in one area, it started in my feet and spread over my entire body. Every nerve burned and stung, hummed and vibrated. [more..]
My experience with RSD - by Jenna - (Fri, Sep 14 2007)
I was 9 years old when I was getting ready for a basketball game and I was coming down the stairs and tripped and fell. I had a weird pain in my right ancle and it hurt to move it. I was taken by my mother to the hospital to get some x-rays to make sure that I didn’t break anything… nothing came back on the x-ray and they simply told me that I spraned it and it would be fine in a couple of days armed with a pair of crutches I left. [more..]
My Story, My Journey with RSD - by Debbie - (Fri, Sep 14 2007)
I could have never imagined that a fall I took on a stairwell so many years ago that finally led to surgery for my shoulder to help 1) with the instability n the shoulder to help stop the ongoing pain I was having would turn into a lifelong journey of dealing with pain. [more..]
The pain is MOVING - by Kelly - (Thu, Sep 13 2007)
I hurt my left elbow at work in 1997. After my second surgery in 1999 my O.T. questioned my doctor if I had R.S.D. it hurt his feelings and he did nothing for MONTHS. I lost my marriage, my child is pulling away from me. [more..]
where do i try now? - by Linda - (Wed, Sep 12 2007)
In Oct 2006 I had knee surgery..the knee felt great for a few weeks after the surgery. Then the pain started again, couldn’t go up any stairs without practically screaming. They drained fluid off the knee did xrays and said everything was good. Several weeks later my right hand swelled up and was so painfull i knew something wasn’t right. [more..]
RSD Has Changed My Life - by DonnaM - (Wed, Sep 12 2007)
I fell and broke my pinkie finger on my dominant hand in early May 2006. I can’t remember feeling pain that intensely before in my life. My experience at the emergency room hurt almost as bad as my hand did. I was treated like I was some sort of “cry baby”, or “whiner”. [more..]
My Story - by Michael - (Tue, Sep 11 2007)
I contracted RSD in June 1989 after left knee arthroscopic surgery. The severe burning pain that I awoke with after the surgery was unbearable. After many months, appointments, tests, and procedures, I was diagnosed. I presently am on my third implanted morphine pump, and take a large amount of oral medications. [more..]
Yet to be undiagnosed RSD - by Diane - (Tue, Sep 11 2007)
In 2004,I has an accident involving my right arm, for several months I had every symptom from the pain, bluish olor, hot/cold feeling to my right hand. [more..]
Living with it - by Colleen - (Fri, Sep 07 2007)
I fell and broke my right wrist.I was diagnosed shortly after the cast came off. I have a lot of faith in Dr S. in Phila. He wanted me to go to Germany to be put into a coma for a week. [more..]
I have RSD & Need advice! - by Michele - (Thu, Sep 06 2007)
In 2005, I fell in a restaurant on wet cobblestone flooring, breaking both sides of my ankle. I was a temp & had no insurance at the time, and ER would not do surgery! They wrapped me up and sent me home. [more..]
HOPE FOR RSD SUFFERERS - by LT - (Wed, Sep 05 2007)
I too have had RSD since I was 24. I still have it today and I am 28 but I barely notice it. I can walk, not limp and I am not bed ridden anymore. After being mis diagnosed I learned I had to be my own doctor, and demand the BEST care. [more..]
Torturous nightmare - by BJ - (Mon, Sep 03 2007)
My RSD started after i fractured my left ankle Feb 1996, nerve blocks ,sympathectomies and suppressive, sedative debilitating drugs and nothing works, 1999 started work in wheelchair, 2005 pain increases, 2007 to dangerous to drive anymore, [more..]
The Pain is Real - by EW - (Mon, Sep 03 2007)
I suffered a major trauma to my left foot in December 2006. I had an x-ray and and I&D immediately after the injury. The pain was unbearable for 6 weeks afterwards. MRI’s and Ultrasounds were inconclusive. [more..]

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